7 Analytic Trigonometry

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

7.1 Trigonometric Identities

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Objectives
■ Simplifying Trigonometric Expressions
■ Proving Trigonometric Identities

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Trigonometric Identities
We know that an equation is a statement that two
mathematical expressions are equal. For example, the
following are equations:

x+2=5
(x + 1)2 = x2 + 2x + 1
sin2 t + cos2 t = 1.

An identity is an equation that is true for all values of the

variable(s). The last two equations above are identities, but
the first one is not, since it is not true for values of x other
than 3.
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Trigonometric Identities
A trigonometric identity is an identity involving
trigonometric functions. We begin by listing some of the
basic trigonometric identities.

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Simplifying Trigonometric
Expressions

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Simplifying Trigonometric Expressions
Identities enable us to write the same expression in
different ways. It is often possible to rewrite a
complicated-looking expression as a much simpler one.

To simplify algebraic expressions, we used factoring,

common denominators, and the Special Product Formulas.

To simplify trigonometric expressions, we use these same

techniques together with the fundamental trigonometric
identities.

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Example 1 – Simplifying a Trigonometric Expression

Simplify the expression cos t + tan t sin t.

Solution:
We start by rewriting the expression in terms of sine and
cosine.
cos t + tan t sin t = cos t + sin t Reciprocal identity

= Common denominator

= Pythagorean identity

= sec t Reciprocal identity

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Proving Trigonometric Identities

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Proving Trigonometric Identities
Many identities follow from the fundamental identities.

In the examples that follow, we learn how to prove that a

given trigonometric equation is an identity, and in the
process we will see how to discover new identities.

First, it’s easy to decide when a given equation is not an

identity.

All we need to do is show that the equation does not hold

for some value of the variable (or variables).

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Proving Trigonometric Identities
Thus the equation

sin x + cos x = 1

is not an identity, because when x =  /4, we have

To verify that a trigonometric equation is an identity, we

transform one side of the equation into the other side by a
series of steps, each of which is itself an identity.
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Proving Trigonometric Identities

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Example 3 – Proving an Identity by Rewriting in Terms of Sine and Cosine

Consider the equation cos (sec – cos ) = sin2.

(a) Verify algebraically that the equation is an identity.
(b) Confirm graphically that the equation is an identity.

Solution:
(a) The left-hand side looks more complicated, so we start
with it and try to transform it into the right-hand side:
LHS = cos (sec – cos )

= cos Reciprocal identity

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Example 3 – Solution cont’d

= 1 – cos2 Expand

= sin2 = RHS Pythagorean identity

(b) We graph each side of the equation to see whether the

graphs coincide. From Figure 1 we see that the graphs

of y = cos (sec – cos ) and y = sin2 are identical.

This confirms that the equation

is an identity.

Figure 1
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Proving Trigonometric Identities
In Example 3 it isn’t easy to see how to change the
right-hand side into the left-hand side, but it’s definitely
possible. Simply notice that each step is reversible.

In other words, if we start with the last expression in the

proof and work backward through the steps, the right-hand
side is transformed into the left-hand side.

You will probably agree, however, that it’s more difficult to

prove the identity this way. That’s why it’s often better to
change the more complicated side of the identity into the
simpler side.
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Proving Trigonometric Identities
In Example 5 we introduce “something extra” to the
problem by multiplying the numerator and the denominator
by a trigonometric expression, chosen so that we can
simplify the result.

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Example 5 – Proving an Identity by Introducing Something Extra

Verify the identity = sec u + tan u.

Solution:
We start with the left-hand side and multiply the numerator
and denominator by 1 + sin u:

LHS =

= Multiply numerator and

denominator by 1 + sin u

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Example 5 – Solution cont’d

= Expand denominator

= Pythagorean identity

= Cancel common factor

= Separate into two fractions

= sec u + tan u Reciprocal identities

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Proving Trigonometric Identities
Here is another method for proving that an equation is an
identity.

If we can transform each side of the equation separately,

by way of identities, to arrive at the same result, then the
equation is an identity. Example 6 illustrates this procedure.

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Example 6 – Proving an Identity by Working with Both Sides
Separately

Verify the identity

Solution:
We prove the identity by changing each side separately into
the same expression. (You should supply the reasons for
each step.)

LHS =

= sec + 1

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Example 6 – Solution cont’d

RHS = =

= sec + 1

It follows that LHS = RHS, so the equation is an identity.

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Proving Trigonometric Identities
We conclude this section by describing the technique of
trigonometric substitution, which we use to convert
algebraic expressions to trigonometric ones. This is often
useful in calculus, for instance, in finding the area of a circle
or an ellipse.

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Example 7 – Trigonometric Substitution
Substitute sin for x in the expression , and
simplify. Assume that 0     /2.

Solution:
Setting x = sin , we have
Substitute x = sin 

Pythagorean identity

cos  Take square root

The last equality is true because cos   0 for the values of

 in question. 23